New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-21
SILvERSMlTHS LOCKED OUT.
ALL THE BIG MANUFACTURERS UNITED.
DETERMINED OPPOSITION TO THE KING ITS OF La
BORA BITTER FIGHT.


DETERMINED OPPOSITION TO THE KING ITS OF La
BORA BITTER FIGHT
lhe constant cxactions and annoyances OF the
knghts-o Of Labor caused last night the shutting
down OF six Of the largest silver manufacturing
establishments in the country, and about 1900
skilled mechanics were thus thrown out Of woric
| for an indefinite period. The firms are The Cor
ham Manufacturing Company, Of No. 500 Broad
way and Providence, X. L.: Tiffany Co, on
Princest. and Union square the Whiting Manu-
featuring Company, OF Sixteenth-st. and Broad
way Dominick g. Half, Of Seventccnthst. and
Broadway; George w. Schiebler & Co., of Brook
lyn, and Wood g. Hughes, of No. l6 John-sts
These firms do nearly all of the silver manufac-
turing in the country, and employ about eighty
per cent OF the mechanics engaged in this branch
OF the business. Their men nearly all organ
lzed in the Knights of Labor, and that organiza-
tion for the last year has made demand after
demand. 1he most of these demands have been
small in detail, but in the aggregate have caused
serious Inconvenience to the manufacturers.
The first strike was in the shop of Tiffany d
Co. in Prince-st, for a change frome piece-work
to weekly salaries 1he strike was successful
after hard fight, and this made the knights more
arrogant than they had previously been. Al thai
time there was talk among the manufacturers of
forming a combination to resist the Knights but
when the strike was settled the plan fell through.
About six weeks ago demand was made by tie
Executive Board OF the brass and silver workers
assembly of District Assembly 40, on
the Whiting Manufacturing Company tha1
they discharge some Of the apprentYces
in the chasing department. Under the
rules of the union only one apprentice was
allowed to each four Journeymen and in most on
the shops this rule was observed. In the Whiting
Mo- cf rfn (inpn nvtc rlapa
were thirteen apprentices Z, o,swentytwo caasers.
Ihe company declined y grant the demands Op
the Executive Board, and as a result twenty-oDe
OF the chasers struck, taking with them five OF
the apprentices who had almost served their time.
These men are skilled mechanics and their places
hard to ill, and as a consequence the company
was put to serious inconvenience. An assessment
was levied ON the workmen who are still at work.
and under these conditions the strikers could
hold out as long as the firm.
IL has been the steady policy OF the knights TO
i"strllSe" only one shop at q time. A number on
conferences were held between the company and
the Executive Board to bring about a settlement.
but they were unavaillng. The representatives, OF
the company offered to meet the men half way and
reduce the number OF apprentices to one to three
Journeymen, but the men, feeling that they held
q winning hand, refused to make any concessions
and demanded an unconditional surrender This
was refused, and on Friday last all negotiations
were broken on. The Whiting Company then
took the offensive, locked out all of the Knights
OF Labor employed and refused TO maintain any
man in their employ who was giving aid and
comfort to the strikers.
In the meantime the old project of forming
combination OF the manufacturers was revived
and representatives OF the various firms met
from time to time to discuss the situation. IL
was decided that the eXactlons OF the walking
delegates had reached a stage that had become
unbearable, and unless the nuisance was abated
over to the knights OF Labor so out of it. An
organization was formed, IN which each membec
promised to shut down his works for any neces-
sary length Of time, should 1t be deemed neecs-
sary by q majority of the association in order t0
bring the worimen to their senses After this
had been done, the strikers in the Whiting Manu-
featuring COmpany'S place were informed thai
they would have TO give up their organization be-
fore the negotiations could 60 on. This caused
the break and the consequent lockout in that
shop.
The manufacturers decided that the time had
come to measure powers with the Knights, and il
was decided to post the following notice in all
their shops on tuesday last
A strike is now existing in the Whiting Manu- featuring
COmpanys shop on account Of the refusal 70 iseage
sn erm on % se aa bus 70 are @ dh s
outside organization and supported by those employed q
the Of our business We therefore give notice that
support OF the strike
paragraph reading:
Notice. therefore that all members belonging labor
ganizations may consider themselves discharged
This action came like a thunderbolt to the Ex.
ecutive Board, who had considered up to this tima
that they certain of winning the strike in rha
Whiting Companys place Just what effect the
order will have 1t is difficult to say. The bosses
MAINTAIN that good proportion OF their men VIII
return to work this morning, but the Executive
Board say that the men % will nearly all stay away
The manufacturers have gone Into the fight To
stay and say that they do not under any crcnm-
stances intend 10 open up again with union men.
G. J.. Cook, of Tiffany q Co.. said
The have simply organized In order 10 carry
their business themselves we nave refused TO employ
ncn sh an 1o but our
Will appreciate the situation and bear with us
situation explained him. he sand ,hat he perfectly
mem We have not question getting
viii soon see their and come BACK to
Mr.. DomlnIck, of Dominick & Hoff said:
The knights Of Labor have seriously injured the silver
now or OF facing ultimate Under the existing rules
aamands to few Skilled SorkSen Only few snail Essa
eoms ansiac'''0'' in N'' '"'''"'
John Alexander. the secretary OF the Brass and
Silver Workers Union said:
o we ss1s aT pG sa Ss Nearly ali Of VIA
and % @ siR pEssg@ @
by rms 400 here and 700 cut II town Inc
bosses have in, recognize the union and WORK
under union rules
One of the officers of the Whiting Manufacturing
Company said last night about the demand In re-
gard to the apprentices:
That demand course could not and would not comply
honoraby bound TO observe the contracts
made OF the apprentices This strike began
the Sesr and SS
ont The men who contributing the support VI the
Strikers and about l25
Then the question mutual protection came up Members
of tile leading nms and formed Themselves Into
sort of informal association for the purpose
| Of mutual protection so now the ,, na,tss
There are not many versmbs in the country they can 20
cities So act quickly ana sce
this thing demands OF the knights OF Labor are gspos
terous OF man VINO says rake sov on
INV note or what owe you Tho men would os
OF Labor have visited our snopS
n s asteS T us TO make will be serious tans